Draft rigging



Nov. 3, 1936. D. s. BARROWS DRAFT RIGGING Filed Jan. 6, 1952 R m mm mm m b o I R m y L N N a a ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 3, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DRAFT RIGGING Application January 6, 1932, Serial No. 585,126

11 Claims.

This invention relates to draft rigging and, more particularly, to an arrangement whereby a greater cushioning capacity is provided on buff than on draft, and provision is made for more efficiently supporting the coupler or drawbar.

The principal object of my invention, generally considered, is the provision of cushioning mechanism involving a preferably cast yokeacting device, comprising rearwardly extending arms connected at one end by a drawbar collar and adapted to lie on the outside of associated draft sills and receive connecting draft keys.

Another object of my invention is the provision of draft rigging involving a yoke-acting device comprising arms extending rearwardly from front tie means and cushioning mechanism associated therewith, said mechanism preferably comprising a housing open at both ends and receiving friction elements in each end, said housing being connected to the rear end of said yoke-acting device, whereby the mechanism at the front end is actuated on draft, and that at both ends on buff.

Other objects and advantages of the invention relating to the particular arrangement and construction of the various parts will become apparent as the description proceeds.

Referring to the drawing illustrating my invention, the scope whereof is defined by the appended claims:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view of a railway vehicle underframe between the sills of which is disposed mechanism embodying my invention, the cushioning mechanism and associated drawbar or coupler being shown in side elevation.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view of the construction shown in Figure 1, the

cushioning mechanism, associated followers, a portion of the drawbar or coupler, the center filler casting and the draft keys being shown in plan.

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view on the line 33 of Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrows, the draft key being shown in elevation.

Referring to the drawing in detail, like parts being designated by like reference characters,

there are shown portions of center or draft sills I connected at their ends by end sills 2 and combined castings 3 functioning as a sill tie, cheek plates and front draft lugs. Although only one end sill and casting 3 are shown, it will be underderstood that the other ends of the sills are correspondingly connected. Intermediate portions of the sills Lare desirably connected by backstops and center filler castings 4, only one of which is illustrated. The upper flanges of the sills l are desirably attached to a cover 9 plate 5.

For cushioning movement of the coupler or drawbar 6 with respect to the sills I, a draft gear or cushioning mechanism 1 is provided and supported between the sills l by means of carry 10 irons 8. The cushioning mechanism 1 in the present embodiment comprises a housing 9 open at each end to receive friction wedges IE) actuated by curved plate springs H, the outer ends of said wedges being engaged by associated fol- 15 lowers l2. The housing 9 is slotted, as indicated at [3, to receive a draft key IS, the outer ends of which pass through corresponding slots IS in the sills l and registering slots IS in the rear portions of a draft device or yoke-acting means 20 ll.

In the present embodiment, the yoke-acting means I! comprises a drawbar or coupler stem collar l8 involving an upper or striking casting portion l9 and a lower or tie portion 20 connected by side portions 2| from which extend the draft link portions 22. The side portions 2|, in the present embodiment, receive the trunnions 23 of swing links 24 which support a coupler carrier and centering device 25. In order to avoid changing the standard spacing of the sills I while still providing room for draft link acting means or portions 22 of adequate size, said link portions 22 are desirably disposed on the outside of the webs of the sills I with 35 their lower surfaces frictionally engaging the lower flanges 26 of said sills, as shown most clearly in Figure 3. This not only serves for the support of the yoke-acting means I1, but also increases the capacity of the mechanism for the absorption of draft and bufling forces.

The drawbar or stem of the coupler 6 is connected to the yoke-acting means I! by a key 21 passing through a slot 28 in the drawbar and through registering slots 29 in the arms of the 45 yoke-acting means IT. The draft gear 1 is desirably properly centered between the sills by wear members 30 and 3 l, the latter of which have rear faces 32 normally engaged by the rear follower l2 to maintain the same in proper position. 50 From a consideration of Figure 1, it will be seen that the front and rear followers, as well as the corresponding ends of the housing 9, are supported by the carry irons 8. Rearward movement of the rear follower I2 is prevented by the 55' engaging backstop 4 and forward movement of the front follower I2 is prevented by the draft lug portions of the casting 3.

The operation of the mechanism heretofore described is as followsz-Under the action of draft forces, the coupler 6 moves forwardly, pulling the yoke-acting means I! therewith through the connecting key 21 and actuating the forward mechanism only of the draft gear 1 by moving the housing 9 forwardly by the key M, causing said housing to close up over the front wedges l0 and curved plate springs ll against the front follower I 2, held stationary by the front stop means of the casting 3.

When the coupler or drawbar 6 is subjected to buffing forces, the front follower I2 is moved rearwardly, pushing the front wedges l6 into the housing 9 and moving the housing 9 rearwardly over the rear wedges I0 held against longitudinal movement by the rear follower l2 abutting the backstop 4. From this, it will be seen that although the yoke-acting means moves with the coupler or drawbar on draft, it only moves rearwardly an amount corresponding with the movement of the housing 9, which, in the present embodiment, is approximately one-half the movement of the coupler 6. It will, therefore, be apparent that the drawbar or coupler is relatively movable with respect to the yoke-acting means on buff, while moving said yoke-acting means along with it on draft.

From the foregoing disclosure, it will be seen that only the forward portion of the cushioning mechanism l serves for the absorption of draft forces, while the mechanism in both ends of the housing 9 serves for absorbing buffing forces. The coupler or drawbar, therefore, moves forwardly from normal only approximately half the distance it is adapted to move rearwardly from normal, the coupler carrier following the forward movement from normal, and thereby efficiently supporting it, while not moving rearwardly to as great an extent on buff, whereby the horn of the coupler, under those circumstances, closely approaches the upper or striking portion IQ of the yoke-acting means I1.

Although a preferred embodiment of my invention has been illustrated, it will be understood that modifications may be made within the spirit and scope of the appended claims, and that the terms and expressions which I have used are employed for purposes of description and not of limitation.

I claim:-

1. In railway draft rigging, in combination with draft sills comprising straight webs and outwardly extending flanges at the lower edges, a drawbar, cushioning mechanism disposed between said sills rearwardly of said drawbar, yokeacting means disposed outwardly of said sills, reinforced by flanges supportingly engaged by said sill flanges, extending beyond the ends thereof, and formed with means to support the forward portion of said drawbar, and means connecting the drawbar to said yoke-acting means and the rearward portions of the latter to an intermediate portion of said cushioning mechanism.

2. In railway draft rigging, in combination with draft sills, a drawbar, cushioning mechanism disposed between said sills rearwardly of said drawbar, a drawbar supporting casting with integral arms extending rearwardly therefrom to function as yoke-acting means, each arm comprising a web with reinforcing flanges, said sills normally supporting some of said flanges, said cushioning mechanism including a housing and a plurality of friction elements movable with respect thereto, a key connecting said drawbar and yoke-acting means for the transmission of draft forces and slidable with respect to one of said members upon the application of buffing forces, and a key connecting said housing and yokeacting means, said drawbar having a buffing travel greater than its draft travel, whereby said drawbar is relatively movable with respect to said yoke-acting means on buff and moves said yokeacting means therewith on draft.

3. In railway draft rigging, in combination with draft sills, a drawbar, cushioning mechanism disposed between said sills rearwardly of said drawbar, yoke-acting means disposed outwardly of said sills, with the latter positioned between elements thereof, and means connecting the forward ends of said yoke-acting means and encircling said drawbar, said connecting means comprising a carrier element underlying said drawbar, and means connecting the drawbar to the forward portions of said yoke-acting means and the rearward portions of the latter to said cushioning mechanism.

4. In railway draft rigging, in combination with draft sills, a drawbar, cushioning mechanism disposed between said sills rearwardly of said drawbar, draft link-acting means for con necting said drawbar and cushioning mechanism, said means being disposed outside of said sills, with the latter positioned between elements thereof, to avoid changing the standard sill spacing and to provide enough room for link-acting means of adequate size, said means and sills being formed with registering slots, and keys extending through said slots, one of said keys serving to connect said means and cushioning mechanism and the other serving to connect said means and drawbar, said sills comprising plane webs having outwardly extending flanges at their lower edges supporting said link-acting means.

5. In railway draft rigging, in combination with draft sills, a yoke-acting device movably mounted on said sills and having arms embracing and disposed outwardly of said sills and slotted for the reception of connecting draft keys, said arms being connected at one end by a collar adapted to receive an associated drawbar.

6. In railway draft rigging, in combination with draft sills, a drawbar, cushioning mechanism disposed between said sills and acted on by said drawbar on buff, and means for actuating said cushioning mechanism on draft comprising an integral casting with a forward portion encircling said drawbar and rearwardly extending arms straddling said sills, with means intersecting said arms and sills for connection with said cushioning mechanism, and other means intersecting other portions of said arms and said drawbar for connection of the latter thereto.

7. In a railway draft rigging, in combination with draft sills, a drawbar, cushioning mechanism disposed between said sills rearwardly of said drawbar, yoke-acting means disposed outwardly of said sills with the latter positioned between elements thereof, said yoke-acting means comprising a forward portion encircling said drawbar, said cushioning mechanism including a housing, a plurality of friction elements movable with respect thereto, a key connecting said drawbar and yoke-acting means for the transmission of draft forces, said key being slidable with respect to one of said members upon the applica tion of buffing forces, and another key connecting said housing and yoke-acting means.

8. In railway draft rigging, in combination with draft sills, a drawbar, cushioning mechanism disposed between said sills rearwardly of said drawbar, said mechanism comprising a housing open at both ends, friction elements and resilient actuating means received in each end, yoke-acting means disposed outwardly of said sills with the latter disposed between elements thereof, said yoke-acting means comprising a forward portion encircling said drawbar and serving to support the same, a key connecting said yoke-acting means and housing and positioned between the friction elements at opposite ends of the mechanism, and another key connecting said drawbar and yoke-acting means.

9. In railway draft rigging, in combination with draft sills, a drawbar, cushioning mechanism disposed between said sills rearwardly of said drawbar, yoke-acting means disposed outwardly of said sills with the latter positioned between elements thereof, means connecting the forward ends of said yoke-acting means and en-.

circling said drawbar, said connecting means comprising a carrier element underlying said drawbar, said yoke-acting means and sills being formed with registering slots, and keys extending through said slots, one of said keys serving to connect said yoke-acting means and cushioning mechanism, and the other serving to connect said yoke-acting means and drawbar, said sills having outwardly extending flanges supporting the elements of said yoke-acting means between which the sills are positioned.

10. In railway draft rigging, in combination with draft sills, a drawbar, cushioning mechanism comprising a housing disposed between said sills rearwardly of said drawbar and open at both ends, friction elements and resilient actuating means received in each end of said housing, yokeacting means comprising a forward portion formed with an aperture through which said drawbar passes and in which it is supported, said yoke-acting means also comprising arms lying on opposite sides of said housing, a key passing through and connecting said housing and arms and disposed between the friction elements at opposite ends of said-mechanism, and another key connecting said drawbar and arms.

11. In railway draft rigging, in combination with the draft sills, a drawbar, cushioning mechanism disposed between said sills rearwardly of said drawbar, and comprising a housing receiving friction elements and resilient actuating means in. each end, yoke-acting means disposed outwardly of said sills and embracing the latter betwen elements thereof, the forward ends of said sill-embracing elements being rigidly connected by a portion cooperating with and apertured to receive said drawbar, a key passing through rearward portions of said yoke-acting means and the sills and housing therebetween, while disposed between friction elements and opposite ends of said friction mechanism, and another key intersecting intermediate portions of said yoke-acting means, the forward portions of said sills and said drawbar for connecting the latter thereto, and serving to support said yokeacting means.

DONALD S. BARROWS. 

